HUNDREDS of fitness fans have been left without training facilities after Darlington's first women-only gym closed without warning.

People who went for a workout at the Peppermint Park gym, in Victoria Road, on Tuesday, found the building locked and a notice on the door.

The notice told customers that due to circumstances beyond the management's control the gym would not be open for use.

The notice also advised gym users who were paying for their membership by direct debit to cancel the standing order.

Peppermint Park opened in January 1997 and was the idea of Newcastle businessman Martin Dodgson, who had previously opened Peppermint Park women-only gyms in South Shields and in Carlisle.

Member Diane Collergy, who goes to Peppermint Park every day, said she was shocked by the closure.

"I go every morning. I went on Monday and everything was just perfectly normal, but I went to go on Tuesday morning, it was locked," she said.

"They had been doing a topping up promotion over the past few weeks and sent out letters giving people the chance to top up their memberships. I paid £90 for another year and my friend signed up for another three years. I have been going to the gym since the first day it opened and just can't believe it.

"They have given no explanation and if you call up the phone just rings and rings, there is no recorded message.

"My friend's husband was a member of Classic Fitness and he lost money when that closed now my friend has lost her money at Peppermint Park, it's ridiculous."

As well as a gym Peppermint Park also offered customers a hairdressing and beauty room, an aerobics centre, toning tables and sunbeds.

The Northern Echo has been unsuccessful in trying to contact anyone from the gym.

Contact numbers for an office in Newcastle and the gym in South Shields are unobtainable.

A spokeswoman for Peppermint Park Health Club in Carlisle said it was independent and not part of any chain of fitness clubs.